Furnace-grate.



J. F. CUNNEEN.

FUBN'AGE GRATB. nrLloATloN 'funn JULY 11. 190s.

Patented 601.2511916.

` wif/fesses J. E; GUNNEEN. PUBNAGE GRATB. APPLIOATN FILED JULY 11, 1908.

973,481. y Patented oct.25,191o.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

@4 I 72g f nfs'iffymf y J. F. GUNNEEN.

FURNAGE GRATE.

APPLIomIoN FILED. VJULY 11,1908.

Patented out. 25,'1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

'JOHN r. cUNNEEN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

FUnNAcE-Gnmrn.

specification f Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Application tiled July v11, 1908. Serial No. 443,353.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. CUNNEEN, .a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook `and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace- Grates; and 'I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the vaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference -marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to'improvements lin traveling furnace grates of that class set forth in my prior application for patent for furnace traveling grates, filed Sept. 27, 1905, Serial No. 280,389. With grates of this class there has oftenbeen experienced great difculty .in supplying suiicient oxygen to properly support combustion with the: re-

- 'y sult that much of the value of the fuel is lost. This is due in part to the fuel, such as anthracite coal, caking upon the grates preventing the air passing through and above the grate to mlX with the hydro-carbon gases. It was partly the object of my prior invention to overcome this defect by agitat-v 'ing the grate at one`or more stages in its travelJ to prevent caking and also to provide openings for .the ingress-of air. In said construction the lugs which are contacted are' located inthe middle or at approximately.

the center of gravity of the grate clips which is objectionable as it r uires considerable power to elevate the loa ed clips resulting in excessive wear of the operating parts.

It is an object of this invention to provide a traveling furnace grate and means for agitating or rocking the clips composing the grate a plurality of times while supportingl the fuel thereby preventing caking of the fuel and successively provi i through the bed of fuel.

It is further an object of the invention to provide clips so constructed as to requiren minimum power in rcking the same and in which the wear is reduced to a minimum.

It is also an object of the invention toprovide novel'mechanism for 'actuatingthe grate and means for varying the rate at which fsald mechanism, moves the grate forwardly.`

It is .finally an object of this inventionto improve the grate construction as a whole and to improve the mechanism forrockmg the" grate clips.

- the ng air passages 1 The invention consists inthe-matters here-.

inafter described and more fully pointed out 'and defined in the appendedclaifns.

In the drawings: vFigurel is a centralf longitudinal section of a device kembodying my invention. thereof with part in Vertical section and Fig. 2 is a front elevationparts of the grate u nits omitted showing the grate units in different positions in turning. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the mecha- -msm for rocklng the gra'te'clips. Fig. 4 illustrates the mechanism for-actuating the grate and the means for varyingthe velocity thereof. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of the grate.. Fig. 6 isa fragmentary side elevation of the grate with -part in longitudinal section. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail of clips. v v p As shown in the drawings: The grate is grate and the mechanlsm for rocking the supported upon a movable .frame composed `of side sections 1, rigidly connected by stay rods 3, each section at 'the forward end thereof extends upwardly to form the side walls ofthe fuel hopper.A Track wheels 2, are journaled to each section which support the same on the tracks 3, whereby the grate may be shifted or removed Whennecessary.

J ournaledl in the forward end of the frame is a shaft 4, having notched wheels 5, secured on each end thereof and a shaft 6, is journaled at the rear end of the frame in adjustable 'boxes 7, slidably secured in slots in the side` sections and having Wheels 9, secured there` on similarly notched. Adjusting rods 8, at one end are rotatably connected with the blocks .and at their opposite ends have threaded engagement with a nut. whereby shaft 6, may be adjusted to vary the tension of the grate. Said grate comprises alternate round and square connecting rods 13, which are connected together by links 17. The square rods are round at their endsadapted together with the other rods to engage in the notches inthe wheels 5 and 9, whereby said grate is movedflongitudinally. lSecured to each 4square bar 13,' are fuel supporting cli s 10, each of which are provided on each si e thereof withlugs 11-12, one en aging on each side of the shaft and remova ly secured in place by a cotter pin 14, which extends through apertures in the lugs below the shaft. Guides 16-`-16, are' provided, vwhich may be integral with the frame or -bolted thereto and serve to support .the weight of the grate and maintain the' upper and lower laps in horizontal position.

, ing the clinkers'as well as shaking down the lire bed. Shafts 18, are secured to the frame 1, and journaled thereon at each end adjacent the inner side of the frame sections are levers 17 -18, which are rigidlyconnected at corresponding ends by means of va rod 19. Each lever is provided on its opposite end with a weight or counterbalance 19a, adapted to hold the ends of the levers to engage the cam 20, on the-adjusting bar 8, whereby the degree of rocking of the clips may be 'accu-V rately adjusted by reciprocation of said adjustingbar or said bar may be adjusted to l throw the rocking mechanism out of operative position.

y A gear 31, is keyed on the end of shaft 4, outside the frame which meshes with a gear 32, journaled on a stud shaft 33, secured to the frame section. Secured to rotate with the gear 32, on said shaft 33, is a ratchet wheel 34, which is engaged by a pawl 41, pivoted on an arm' 35, which is. also ivoted at one end on the shaft 33. A sha 39, is journaled in the frame shaft 33, and a cam 37 1s secured thereon which engages the 'friction 'roller 36, at the end of the arm 35, opposite the pivot whereby for each rotation of said camthe ratchet is advanced one tooth and the grate correspondingly advanced. A sprocket wheel 38, `1s secured on the shaftA 39, around which a chain 40, is trained, which may be driven from any suitable source of power. For the purpose of varying the velocity of the grate a vertical rod 42, 1s adjustably engaged in a bracket 43, and is secured in any adjustment by means of a set screw. Adjusting the rod Varies the amplitude of movement of the arm 35, vwhich in turn controls the rotationl of the ratchet wheel 34, through the medium of the awl 41.

,The opper for the fuelis formed by the side walls of the frame, the front 25 of the furnace, and the sections 26, which epnnect the sections 1. A partition 29, is pivtally secured in the hopper, which vdelivers the fuel upon a screen 28, where the nerfuel is separated from the .coarsen -Said screen is secured to a suitable metallic frame provided with lugs 29, b means of which the screen 41s' secured in p ace and a plate 27, integral wlth the frame separates the grades of fuel until near the bottom of the hopper when the -finer is delivered upon the coarse fuel. A pivoted segment shaped cover isprovided for cutting` 'ofi the fuel supply which is operated by a handle 30.- j

fof the Clips parallel with the The operation is asfollows: The fuel is fed into the hopper and is screened as it advances therethrough, the coarser particles passing over the screen on top of the traveling grate and the finer fuel is deposited on the coarse fuel. Inasmuch as the coarse fuel is next to the grate it is obvious that even though the grate were not agitated the fuel would admit some air therethrough and the danger heretofore alwa s existing where ne' fuel is next to the gra e, of forming an impenetrable bed of fuel is obviated. As thegrate advances with its bed of fuel there- --on-it becomes more and more compact as the fuel is gradually consumed, and it is neces,- sary in order to secure the maximum value from the fuel to supply more air above the bed than would naturally be supplied thereto. This is accomplished by means of the automatic agitating mechanism, which rocks all the clips of a row to elevate the rear ends and depress the forward ends thereby breaking up any slag or other formation at each end of the clips and providing passages of sufficient area to admit an abundant supply of oxygen above the fuel bed.

Inasmuch as the cams 15, are at the end or ofi' center, the clips are comparatively easily operated and the Wear occasioned between the-cams and operating parts is exceedingly small.` The weights or counterbalances 19a, are suiiiciently heavy to secure the lower ends of the levers 17a-18, against the cams on the adjusting bars and prevent the upper ends being forced downwardly by the cams 15, on the clips, in other words, said counterwei'ghts are sufficiently heavy to overcome the inertia of the clip and the Weight of the fuel carried thereon.

The linear velocity of the grate can be very accurately regulated by adjustment of the rod 42, but of course, any equivalent mechanism maybe substituted to vary the arc of movement of the arm 35.

As shown in Fig. 1, the ashes from the traveling grate are emptied u on a platform 21, pivoted on the sha t 22. Said platform is supported ofi center and adapt Yed when emptied to automatically swing to normal position and has adownturned end normallyuresting on a stop 24.. When the Wei ht ofthe ashes is sufficiently great they Y wil overbalance the platform and tilt thev same forwardly thereby dumping `thesame after which said platform returns to normal position.

Of course, the rocking 'or agitating mechanism may be differently constructed as may the clips and many details of construction principles of myinvention. I therefore do not desire to hmit this application for'patelli. otherwlse than necessitated by the prior a may be varied without departing from the I' a frame, a conveyer thereof, and

, to gradually I claim as my invention:

1. A traveling grate comprising rows of pivotally supported fuel supporting clips, a cam integral with each clip curved on the forward faces and means for simultaneously contacting all the cuived faces of the cams of a row of clips for swinging the -s'ame'on their pivots and said cams having flat rear faces adapting the clips to drop abruptly t jar the clips.

2. A traveling grate comprising supporting clips arranged in rows, each row comprising a. plurality of clips, a pair of lugs secured to the under side of Aeach clip, a Square shaft engaged vbetween the lugs of all the clips in the saine row, a downwardly projecting cam secured adjacent the end of each clip opposite the lugs havingcurved faces facing the lugs and flat perpendicular rear faces and a round shaft on which the clips loosely rest at their extremities outside .of the cams.

3. A traveling grate embracing a frame, shafts journaled therein, notched wheels on said shafts, alternate round and 4square connecting rods,

the ends and adapted together with the round rods to engage in the notches in the.

wheels, linksl connecting the rods, fuel-supporting clips detachably secured to -the square rods and said clips adapted at corresponding ends to rest on `the adjacent Tound rod, inwardly' directed projections on said clips having curver forward faces and flat rear faces and a pivotally supported rod for engaging the projections of all the clips on each shaft as the same pass thereby.

4. A traveling furnace grate comprising niovably longitudinally thereof, fuel supporting clips detachably secured to the coiiveyer, a cam secured to each clip l means for engaging the cam, said cam being shapedto elevate the clip gradually and to quickly drop the clip to jar the clinkers loose and to shake the fuel bed down. j

5. A traveling grate comprising pivotally supported clips, cams or projections secured to 'the clips at one e'ndthereof, pivotally supported means for coacting with the cams elevate the clips and to abrupt-ly drop the clips to jarthe same, and

said square rods rounded at ustable to vary on one side of the center of gravity` ineans for adjustingsaid pivotally supported means to vary the degree of elevation of the clips.

6. In a traveling grate 'a frame, notched j wheels .j ournaled thereto, a horizontally movable conveyer comprising links and alternate round and square shafts adapted to lit in the notches in the Wheels, fuel supporting clips provided with lugs, one to vengage on each side of the appropriate square shaft, a cain or projection on each clip extending inwardly having a curved face and means for engaging the curved face of the cani of each clip for tipping the clip upwardly, said cam having an abrupt rear face for quickly dropping the clips. i

7. In a traveling grate a frame, a clip supporting conveyer, means for varying the tension thereof, clips pivotally supported, shaft secured to the fraine, levers journaled thereon, means connecting the levers adapted to swing the clips on their pivot', a horizontal reciprocatable bar secured to the frame and a plurality of' cams integral therewith for adjusting the levers to vary the swinging of the clips and to adjust the levers out of operative position.

8. In a travelingy grate a frame, a clip supporting conveyer, means for varying the tension thereof, clips pivotally supported, shafts secured to the frame, levers journaled thereon, means connecting the levers adapted to swing the clips on their pivot, reciprocable cams for adjusting the levers to vary the swinging of the clips and to adjust the levers out of operative position, means for reciprocating the cains and mechanism adtlie velocity of said traveling grate.

9. A trave-ling grate comprising shafts, clips secured thereto, a cani secured to each clip having a curved front face and a straight, flat iear face and mechanism for engaging the curved faces ofthe cams for agitating the clips.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. CUNNEEN.

Witnesses: y

C. WV. HiLLs K, E. HANNAH. 

